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Minnesota-Based Barrel Depot Takes Rain Barrels on the Road

Truckload Events Raise Awareness of Government Rebates and Encourage Water Conservation

A little-known rebate is being offered by cities and municipalities to encourage residents to conserve water by purchasing rain barrels. To enable this environmentally-friendly effort, Minnesota-based and women-owned Barrel Depot is making it easy for U.S. residents to take advantage of these rebates -- some up to 80 percent of the wholesale price -- by bringing the rain barrels directly to the cities where rebates exist.

Elena Kotowski and Tonya Baker owners of Barrel Depot in Shakopee, Minn., are holding truckload events in major markets that offer rebates under city storm water and pollution reduction initiatives. They are offering the rain barrels at wholesale prices to encourage the purchase and use and the rebate sweetens the deal.

According to Kotowski, "Rain barrels provide an inexpensive and effective way to capture and disperse rain water and, in the process, conserve water usage and reduce water bills. People who use them see their plants grow better from the rainwater and they have a source of water to wash their cars other items with. Not many people know the rebates exist nor do they understand the benefits of rain barrels. This is our motivation to take the rain barrels on the road direct to the markets where there are rebate programs. Plus, they pay for themselves within a year."

Residents are asked to pre-order the plastic "Made in the U.S.A." rain barrels online prior to the truckload events. Rebate applications are available online. Buyers can pick up their pre-ordered rain barrels at the local market truckload events.

Rain barrels reduce water runoff, lower water bills, enhance plant growth, and enable residents to water plants during water restrictions.

Upcoming rain barrel truckload events will be held in Gaithersburg, Md. (July 30), Minneapolis Farmers Market Annex (August 1) and Chicago (August 1). For a full calendar of events visit http://ameribarrel.com/eventcalendar.aspx.

Barrel Depot is a small Minnesota women-owned company that is working towards an eco-friendly environment by salvaging used oak wine barrels and converting them to rain barrels. They also developed and market their own plastic rain barrel, made in the U.S.A. with all of the accessories needed to conserve and use rainwater. For more information contact Tonya Baker at 952-221-2113 or email to barreldepot@live.com.